Robert Rawlins, 55, of Dallas, Texas, became the youngest
man to win the Senior Amateur Championship when he defeated
Richard Runkle, 56, of Los Angeles, on the 19th hole at the
Birmingham Country Club, in Birmingham, Michigan. William
C. Campbell, of Huntington, West Virginia, was medalist, with
144.

He lost to Runkle, 7 and 5, in the second round. Rawlins
defeated Alton Duhon, the 1982 champion, on the 19th hole
in one semifinal match while Runkle, who had finished second
to William Hyndman, III, in 1983, defeated James Frost, 1-up,
in the other.

In the final, Runkle led, 1 up, after nine holes, but Rawlins
birdied the 18th to even the match. Rawlins won the 19th when
Runkle missed an 18-inch par putt. The USGA accepted a record
1,l59 entries.

Championship Facts

PAR AND YARDAGE – Beverly Country Club will play at 6,654/6,672 yards and a par of 36-35—71.

ARCHITECT – Beverly Country Club was designed by George O’Neil and opened in 1908. Donald Ross redesigned the course in 1918. A renovation of the course, guided by golf course architect Ron Prichard, was completed in 2008.

COURSE AND SLOPE RATING – The USGA Course Rating® for the Senior Amateur at Beverly Country Club is 72.7 and USGA Slope Rating® is 133.

USGA AND ILLINOIS – The 2009 USGA Senior Amateur will be the 57th championship conducted in the state of Illinois, ranking it fourth among states hosting the most USGA championships. The last USGA championship in the state was the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton. The Senior Amateur is making its fifth appearance in Illinois (1962, 1973, 1979, 1998).